Coach Banks patrolled the sidelines Saturday, thrusting himself into Syracuse’s huddles during timeouts and scouting the Virginia defense.

He even talked like a coach yesterday: “I thought Mike (Springer) did an excellent job Saturday. I was real proud of the way he played.”

One problem: Coach Banks would prefer not to be (ITALICS) Coach (ITALICS) Banks anymore. He’d much rather be Liam Banks, the Syracuse men’s lacrosse attacker who would’ve played his first regular-season game in the Carrier Dome since May 6, 2000, on Saturday.

But a bruised right shoulder — the same injury that forced Banks to miss SU’s scrimmage against Maryland and season opener at Army — relegated Banks to sideline duty. He will almost certainly occupy that role again Monday, when Syracuse (1-1) hosts Fairfield.

Banks hopes to return either March 15 against Johns Hopkins or a week later against Princeton, both home games.

“It’s feeling OK,” Banks said of his shoulder. “Not great, though.”

It was feeling much better two and a half weeks ago, days before SU’s Feb. 22 game against Army. But during practice, Banks got whacked on the shoulder again. It swelled immediately, cutting down his range of motion.

Banks had originally injured his shoulder in the Orangemen’s first scrimmage, against Navy, on Feb. 8. He recorded a goal and an assist that game. Days later, he said he expected to be back by the season opener.

“I was close to coming back,” Banks said. “It’s frustrating, especially when you reinjure it and not being able to play Saturday. It’s a long season. Coach has helped me put that in perspective. It’s better to be there in May than in March.”

On Tuesday, Banks returned to practice, and he went through workouts again yesterday with minimal contact.

“Hopefully,” Banks said, “the defensemen will lay off for a while.”

Said junior attacker Brian Nee: “He looked really good. He didn’t look rusty at all.”

Good thing for Banks, because he’ll need to impress to work his way back into Syracuse’s crowded attack.

Senior Mike Springer — who has six goals and six assists through two games — and junior Mike Powell anchor the first unit as returning starters. They’ve been joined by Nee, who scored 21 goals last season as a second-stringer.

That line has combined for 10 goals and 12 assists this year. In the 16-15 loss to UVa on Saturday, the trio notched seven goals, led by Springer’s five.

Behind them, freshman Brian Crockett has already established himself as the primary backup, having compiled four goals and an assist already.

“Fortunately, the injury happened at an end of the field where we’re a little stronger than at other positions,” SU head coach John Desko said. “We’ve got some depth and people to compensate for that. We’re looking forward to getting (Banks) back, though. He gives us some leadership at that end of the field.”

Still, Desko declined to assure Banks a spot on the first unit when he returns.

“He’d have to get it done in practice,” Desko said. “Probably not. He’s going to have to work his way back. We’ll do whatever’s best for the team at the time.”

Said Banks: “I’m going to have to fight back. Hopefully, we can get some kind of rotation going where we can utilize all of our talent.”

Banks also hopes he can trade a clipboard for a lacrosse stick.

“It’s tough watching when you can’t help,” Banks said. “Maybe it’ll prepare me to be a coach someday.”

Published on March 5, 2003 at 12:00 pm